Pet Digest

Travel Anxiety in Dogs: Natural Ways to Ease the Stress Whether it’s a quick trip to the vet or a long road trip to visit family, travel anxiety is a common struggle for many dogs. Pacing, whining, shaking, excessive drooling, or even vomiting can all be signs your dog isn’t comfortable hitting the road. But before reaching for pharmaceuticals, many pet parents prefer to try natural solutions first. And thankfully, there are several gentle, effective ways to help ease your dog’s anxiety without sedation. 1. Set the Tone Before You Leave Just like people, dogs pick up on our energy. If you're rushing around and stressed, your dog is more likely to feel that way too. Build in time to calmly prepare. Avoid making a big fuss when leaving—calm, casual goodbyes signal to your dog that everything is okay. 2. Burn Off Energy with Pre-Trip Exercise A tired dog is a calmer dog. If your dog struggles with travel anxiety, start the day with a long walk, a hike, or a game of fetch in the yard. ...

🐾 Low-Impact Exercise for Dogs: Safe Movement for Every Age and Stage Whether your dog is a senior, recovering from an injury, overweight, or just not built for high-intensity zoomies, low-impact exercise is a safe and effective way to keep them moving. Not every dog needs to chase a ball for hours or run alongside a bike to stay healthy. In fact, low-impact movement is often the best way to support long-term joint health, prevent injury, and improve mental well-being — especially for dogs with special needs or slower paces. Let’s explore some easy-on-the-joints ways to keep your pup active, engaged, and tail-wagging. --- 🐕 Why Low-Impact Exercise Matters Some dogs just aren’t built for constant high activity: Senior dogs often have arthritis or reduced mobility. Overweight dogs need gentle movement to avoid joint strain. Short-snouted breeds (like pugs or bulldogs) can overheat easily. Large breeds can develop joint problems if overexercised. Dogs recovering from injury or surgery n...

🥕 Ways to Help Your Dog Lose Weight (Safely and Naturally) Let’s be honest — some of our pups are more marshmallow than muscle . Whether it's a few extra pounds from too many treats or a long-term weight gain issue, helping your dog slim down can improve their quality of life and even extend it. But where do you start? Here are vet-approved , natural , and dog-friendly ways to help your dog lose weight — without sacrificing love, treats, or tail wags. 🐾 1. Talk to Your Vet First Before making any changes, get a proper weight assessment and rule out medical conditions like hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, or joint pain that may be contributing to weight gain. Your vet can also help you determine a healthy goal weight. 🥦 2. Feed for the Weight They Should Be Most commercial food labels base feeding guidelines on ideal body weight, not your dog’s current size. If your dog is overweight, feeding according to their actual weight can perpetuate the problem. Adjust calori...

L-Carnitine & Post-Meal Movement: A Smarter Approach to Your Dog’s Weight Loss Helping your dog lose weight isn’t just about feeding less — it’s about feeding smart and supporting that diet with the right kind of movement. One powerful (and often overlooked) nutrient in the fight against fat is L-carnitine , and when paired with light post-meal activity, it can help your dog burn fat more efficiently. Let’s break down why it matters. What is L-Carnitine? L-carnitine is an amino acid-like compound that plays a major role in fat metabolism . It helps transport fatty acids into the mitochondria (the energy powerhouses in cells), where they’re burned for energy. Without enough L-carnitine, your dog’s body can’t efficiently turn fat into fuel. In dog food, L-carnitine is often added to weight-control formulas to help promote lean muscle and reduce fat stores. 🐶 Did You Know? A 2006 study published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry showed that L-carnitine supplemen...